MARCH 2019 businesstraveller.com94
TRIED AND TESTED HOTELS
BACKGROUND Open since October last
year, this new-build property is located
on the south side of the Thames, close
to the Sea Containers hotel (formerly the
Mondrian). It is part of a development
that includes the striking 50-storey One
Blackfriars and is a member of Marriott
International’s Autograph Collection,
which comprises more than 150 hotels
around the world.WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel has gone
big on art under interior designer Dayna
Lee, who has partnered with Contemporary
Collective in filling the property with
modern and recycled pieces; there is even
an artist in residence who produces works
inspired by the area. Walk through to the
lifts and you’ll see portraits by Helen Gorrill
of Sir Christopher Wren, the Mona Lisa
and Shakespeare with a skateboard. The
public areas have handcrafted furniture
by Galvin Brothers, and corridors feature
Cy Twombly-inspired prints.WHERE IS IT? Just next to Blackfriars
Bridge, opposite the Thameslink station
and a short walk from Southwark
Underground station.ROOMS The 161 rooms come in nine
categories and are set over five floors.
Entry-level Modest Doubles are 21 sqm.
All rooms feature amenities including
luxury robes, fabulous 300 thread-count
Egyptian cotton sheets on very comfortableBankside Hotel,
Autograph Collection
BEST FOR
Quirky design with all the
mod cons of a top-class hotelDON’T MISS
A drink and then dinner
in the Art YardPRICE
Internet rates for a flexible
midweek stay in April started from
£293 for a Modest Double roomCONTACT
Bankside Hotel, 2 Blackfriars Road,
Upper Ground; tel +44 (0)20 3319
5988; banksidehotel.comtiles by Laura Carlin. Open all day, it offers
a short but delicious menu in the evenings.
I had a small pizza of buffalo ricotta,
artichokes and tomatoes (£6) and a main
course of sea bass with cavolo nero pesto
and horseradish (£16.50), with side orders
of roasted sweet potatoes with harissa and
pomegranate molasses, and carrot with
tahini and linseeds; just right for a freezing
cold January night. A small bar is planned
for the mezzanine floor this year.MEETINGS The event spaces are split
across the lower and mezzanine floors with
the largest being the art gallery-like White
Box, which holds 132 guests for a banquet.LEISURE There is a fair-sized gym, or
you can run along the Thames.VERDICT If you’re not bothered about
views, these are large, luxurious rooms with
fantastic soundproofing, technology and
service. Highly recommended. Tom OtleyThereisevenanartistin
residence who produces
works inspired by the areabeds, Grown Alchemist bathroom
products in large dispensers, remote-
controlled blackout blinds and Nespresso
machines. Suites start at 41 sqm. Bear
in mind that while one category of room
contains the word “View”, this is a relatively
low-rise property and the buildings around
it are higher.
Ceilings are in polished concrete, and
I liked the wooden floor with the faded
colourful rugs. On the glass table was
an artist’s box of coloured pencils. There
were some expensive-looking desk
lamps, a huge amount of plugs around
the room, USB charging by the bed, free
and fast wifi, and large TVs with Google
Chromecast. Weirdly, this didn’t work with
my Google phone (Pixel 3), but a helpful
staff member came up and showed that it
worked successfully with every other form
of device, including my laptop. Instead ofa minibar there is a vending machine on
each floor containing everything from small
bottles of good (but expensive) wine to
“adult packs”. Each room also has a fridge
containing bottled water and fresh milk.FOOD AND DRINK Art Yard Kitchen
and Bar is an attractive ground-floor space
featuring, among other works, hand-painted